HB 5262 Summary

• Amends the William Van Regenmorter Crime Victim's Rights Act to expand the definition of "victim" in juvenile cases to include parents, guardians, or custodians of minor victims who may exercise victims' rights and make impact statements.

• Allows parents, guardians, or custodians of victims under 18 years old (who are neither defendants nor incarcerated) to participate in the legal process on behalf of the victim if the victim is physically or emotionally unable to do so.

• Permits parents, guardians, or custodians of deceased victims to exercise victim rights in a specific hierarchy: spouse, adult children, parents, guardians of minor children, siblings, and grandparents.

• Corrects reference in the definition of "offense" from MCL 750.136b(6) to MCL 750.136b(7) regarding child abuse in the fourth degree.

• Effective date: July 1, 2014.